Delayed action circuit breaker for vehicles



July 28, 1953 T. R, COUTS ETAL 2,647,181

DELAYED ACTION CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR VEHICLES Filed July 17, 1952 9 t zi 5.9 l g 55 .f7 sa ji 40 i344? f2 57 1p.-

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)W f4 I 46 Ivi/E/vro/es. 75ccessorv'es 23A/y B. C0075, A A/QL R RANK/NxMm/j Patented July 2.8, 195.3

ApplicationJxly lll;- 1952,Serial No. 299,451.

4 Claims;

This invention. relatestoadelayed action elec.- tricai control device for usein. electrical", circuits associated with. means producing pneumatic pressure variations, asifor example, an internal combustion engine. More particularly, the invention relates to an automatic operable pneumatic responsive circuit breaking device operable by vacuum pressure in an internal" combustion engine for disconnecting after a selected time interval, the entire' electrical system` of a vehicle or selected electrical accessories used on the vehicle.

There is a deflniteneedffor a positive',k simply" operable, effective, automatic circuit makerand: breaker which can be readilyadaptedfor' use on a vehicle and associated' with` the internal combustion engine thereof` When a vehiclei's parkedl and the engine shut off, variouselectricall accessories may be left operably connected to theicary battery, with the result` that there isacontinuous drain on' the battery during a periodnwhich the batteryv is not beingre-charged by operation off* the vehicle. If such a drain on the carbattery continues for' a certain length of time, the' battery-will beincap'able of supplying` the required' starting current loads. It' is therefore proposed to design and provide adelayedaction controll device which is automatically operabletobrealc the main electrical circuit or the electrical circuitito one or more accessories so that after the car has been parked, the electrical circuitsf will" be open and the undesireddrain' and wear* on' the'- car'battery will be prevented. y

A primary object of this invention' is to design and provide an automatically operable delayed action control device for Vehicles whicl'ris simply#v wherein ay novel design of rod assemblylisfafssoci atedwith a solenoidoperated switch, the switch being adapted to open and close'fa main battery electrical' circuit.

Still another object off thislinvention is todesignv and provide a control( device, as above.. de*-D scribed., wherein. huid pressure; for actuating thev devicelis controlled or metered; at the:beginning,l

2, of" the: use.. of. the electrical circuit and at the endlof suchruse..

Generally speaking,r this invention contein'.- plates. av simply constructed; delayed' action control device, comprisinga vacuum chamber'defned by anv open,- ended, liollow,cylindrioal`housing,the open end of. said housing beingclose'd a flexible diaphragm, Within the housing, i's mounted. a solenoid means,of'suitablecapacity,` including, a reciprocally movable solenoidv element. The solenoid element, carries an electrical, contact makingVA ring` and" is. associated with a rod assembly which is carried and connected to' the diaphragm. Duct' means are provided for. forming'a passageway, communicating with the interiorof" the vacuum chamber and with theintakemanifoldofan associated internalcombustion engine. The passageway isprovidedwith a meterin'g'valve element which maybe readily adjustableto con'- 'trol` iiow of* air between. the manifold and; the` vacuumchamber;

Other objects' an'd'advantages'of this inventionV willi be' readil'y apparent from the' following` descriptions of the drawings.

In the' drawings:`

Eig. 1 is a side elevation view' ofi af control de'- vice embodyingv this invention; a portion" of the nousi'ngthereofbeing'brokenawayi Fig. 2 isL an enlargedsectional; view ofthedevice shown in Fig; 1i', the sections being' taken in' the plane' indicated byline' IIL-II'l of Fig; 1.

Fig: 3' is a fragmentary, partial View of'I the solenoid and" associated rodL assembly used-inv the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 isa diagrammatic view-off a' wiring circuit wh'ich may beused witlrY the device-of this invention.

The' control device' embodyingV this invention, generally indicated at ll'; includes' ahollow; cylindrical', open-ended housing Il' defining a vacuum chamber l-2`f` The housing l'l may com prisesa cylindrical Wall? I3; having a bottom end'-y cover plate Hl", secured' to the end eel-ge' marginv ofwall I@ as by= welding. Thee end plate'V H' may include an extension IEigenerally'disposed longie tu'di-nallfy of thewall |13' and spaced radiallyoutef ward therefrom soasfto provide' a suitable con"` nectiorif-toa` mounting surface. Tl'ieextension` liti drica-l wall'.. |13; andwhichiismounted sowas@toipro-v vide a, pneumatic; seal; The@ pneumaticseal sf' conveniently formedA by'. positioning. circumfer-I entialtmarginsz. of,- diaphragm: lL-'between-.opposed n circumferential flanges I8 and I 9 of top and bottom protective, generally shallow cone-shaped walls and 2I respectively. An annular member 22 may be secured as by welding to the inner marginal periphery of the top open end of cylindrical wall I3, said annular member providing a seat for circumferential flange I9 of the bottom wall 2l. An annular securing ring 23 may be seated on circumferential flange I3 of top wall 20 and secured as by a pluralityrof circumferentially spaced screw bolts 24 extending through the iianges and into threaded engagement with member 22.

An elongated mounting bracket 26 may be secured by certain of said bolts 24 on the same side of the device as mounting extension I5. The bracket 2t may include spaced ports 21 for securing the top of the device to a suitable mounting surface.

The top and bottom protective walls 2B and 2| substantially enclose flexible diaphragm I1 while permitting limited axial deection of said diaphragm. The bottom wall 2I includes an axial, relatively large port 29 for permitting communication with the vacuum chamber I2.

The top wall 20 terminates in a frusto-conical end portion 38 of steeper inclination than wall 20. An axial port 3I in portion 30 receives therewithin the top end 32 of a rod means, generally indicated at 33, for guiding and maintaining the rod means 33 in substantially axial relation.

Passageway means generally indicated at 34 are carried by cylindrical wall I3 of the housing and are adapted to be connected to the intake manifold of an associated internal combustion engine so as to provide communication between vacuum chamber I2 and said intake manifold. rIhe passageway means 34 includes a vertically disposed tube 35 secured as by an arm 33 to wall I3. The bottom end of tube 35 is connected to a valve block 31 having a vertical bore 33 leading to a transverse bore 39. Bore 39 communicates with a pipe 48 extending through wall I3 and into chamber I2. Pipe 48 may be secured and sealed as by welding to the wall I3.

The bore 39 in the valve block 31 may receive a tapered needle valve element 4I carried by an adjusting stem member 42 threaded in a valve portion 43. The needle element 42 may thus be readily adjusted so as to control the passageway of uid (air) through the passageway means 34 between vacuum chamber I2 and the intake manifold.

Within the housing I0 may be mounted suitable solenoid means including coil means 45 carried within a hollow cylindrical container 46 having an open-ended extended portion 41 above coil means 45. A solenoid element 48 is reciprocally movable within the coil means 45. A screw bolt 49 extends through closure plate I4 and the bottom wall of the container 43 to secure container 46 within the housing.

Carried on the inner surface of extended portion 41 are a pair of spaced electrical terminals 50, said terminals 59 presenting inner electrical contact surfaces to edge margins of circular ported contact disc 5I carried by the solenoid element 48. The solenoid element 48 may be provided with a shoulder dening a threaded, reduced portion 59 over which the ported disc 5I is sleeved for seating on said shoulder. Insulating washers 53 are provided' on opposite sides of discs 5 I In lowermot position and when energized by coil means 45, the contact disc 5I is adapted to make electrical contact with terminals 50 for closing an electrical circuit as later described. Spring means 54 extending between coil means 45 and the lower insulating washer 53 normally bias contact disc 5I into circuit open position.

The rod means 33 provides an extendible and contractible connection between flexible diaphragm I1 and the reciprocally movable solenoid element 48. Such a connection permits the contact disc 5I to close the circuit between terminals 50 before the flexible diaphragm I1 is responsive to vacuum produced in the intake manifold so as to permit starting of the internal combustion engine.

The rod means 33 includes a hollow tubular sleeve member 56 secured as by threading to the threaded reduced portion 52 of the solenoid element 48. The sleeve member is provided with longitudinally extending, diametrically opposed closed-ended slots 51 which are adapted to slidably receive a transverse pin 58 carried by a rod extension 59. The pin 58 is seated on a top movable annular spring seat 59 against which bears one end of a coil spring 6I having its lower end seated on a bottom movable annular spring seat 62. The spring 6I is sleeved over the hollow sleeve member 56. The bottom spring seat 62 is resiliently supported from the upper insulating washer 53 by means of a coil spring 53 extending between said seat 62 and washer 53.

The rod extension 59 extends upwardly through port 29 in bottom wall 2| of the upper closure for the housing and through a port in diaphragm I1. The port in diaphragm I1 may be sealed by a pair of annular washers 65 on opposite sides of a diaphragm I1 and secured in tight relationship between a shoulder 61 formed on rod extension 59 and a nut B8 threaded to a reduced threaded portion of extension 59. The extension 59 terminates in a guide rod G9 projecting upwardly through port 3| in the top wall 28 of the top closure of the housing.

As best seen in Fig. 1, the terminals 50 are connected by suitable leads to terminal posts 1I provided exteriorily of bottom wall I4 of the housing I i. A ground connection 12 may be provided for the coil means through the securing screw 49.

An exemplary circuit diagram is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the control device is shown 'as being connected to a main hot battery lead 15. It is understood of course that the control device may be connected in series to other battery leads for selected accessories so that operation of the device serves to only automatically shut off the lights, radio, etc., as desired.

In Fig. 4, a battery source is shown at 16 connected to ground. Main lead 15 is connected to one of the terminal posts 1I. A lead 11 is connected to lead 15 and 18, includes a starter switch 19 and is connected to one end of the coil means 45. The other end of the coil means 45 may be connected to ground through the screw 49 so as to complete a circuit when the switch 19 is closed for energizing coil means 45 and moving the contact disc, into circuit making position with terminals 50. Lead from the other terminal 50 is connected to a starter solenoid 8|, solenoid BI being connected through lead 82 to the ground at screw 49. Lead 8D is also connected to the remainder of the electrical system of the vehicle and contact disc 5I serves to open and close the main lead from the battery. An emergency switch 83 by-passes the control 5 device I and is connected as at 84 and 85 to leads 'I5 and 80.

In operation, it will therefore be readily apparent that upon closing of the starter switch 'I9 as shown in the circuit diagram in Fig. 4, the solenoid coil means 45 will be energized so as to move downwardly the solenoid element 48. Such movement will close the circuit between terminals 58. Because of the pin and slot connection of the rod means 33 to the solenoid element 58, such movement will not immediately elect the position of the flexible diaphragm II and the springs 6I, 63 and 54 will be compressed. As the engine begins to turn over, vacuum is produced in the intake manifold and the chamber I2 is partially evacuated of air so as to cause a reduction in air pressure therein. The rate of such evacuation is controlled by the position of the needle element il I. After the motor has operated for a selected period of time, the partial evacuation of air from chamber I2 causes the flexible diaphragm I'I to collapse inwardly and thus move the rod extension 59 downwardly to cause the transverse pin 58 to again bear against top spring seat 60. Therefore, as long as the vacuum is maintained in chamber I2, the contact disc I will be maintained in circuit making position by the inward collapse position of the diaphragm.

When the engine is stopped, the needle element 4I controls the entering of air at normal air pressure into the vacuum chamber I2 so that after a selected period of time, as for example, one minute, the pressure in chamber l2 will be substantially equal to atmospheric pressure and the flexible diaphragm I1 will assume a normal position. In such normal position, the rod means 33 is in extended relation and the Contact disc 5| is out of contact with terminals 50 and the main battery circuit is thereby broken. Breaking of the circuit automatically disconnects the main hot lead l5 from the battery source 'I6 so that the electrical system of the auto is dead.

Switch 83 is provided for emergency purposes, such as when the motor stops on a hill at night and current is required for the lighting system. Normally switch 83 is open.

The extensible rod means 33 thus permits the solenoid element 48 and contact disc 5I to move downwardly upon closure of the starter switch 19 without displacing the diaphragm Il. It should also be noted that the metering or control of the flow of air pressure outwardly from vacuum chamber I2 results in the diaphragm I1 being displaced in a cushioned and gentle manner. Thus the combination of the extensible rod means 33 and the metering of the outflow of air from chamber 4D provides a cushioned action in the control device which minimizes Wear on the diaphragm I'I and permits the device to operate smoothly and eifectively. Obviously if the rod means 33 were rigid and non-extensible and the outflow of air from chamber I2 were not controlled, upon closing of the starter switch, the diaphragm I'I would be violently displaced inwardly and wear along the circumferential margins of the diaphragm would be excessive.

When the engine associated with this control device is stopped, the diaphragm I'I is gently displaced back to normal position by the control of the inow of air into the chamber I2. Thus the reciprocal action of the rod means 33 is cushioned and gentle.

It is understood that various changes and modications may be made in the exemplary construction of a control device described above, including changes in the circuit arrangement, in the extensible and contactable rod means, and in the contact engagement between the disc 5l and the terminals 50.

All such changes and modifications coming 2 within t-he scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

We claim: 1. In a delayed action control device adapted to be responsive to fluid pressure and arranged `diaphragm for moving said element in response to movement of said diaphragm and including, a hollow sleeve member carried by said element and provided with a longitudinally extending slot; a rod extension carried by the diaphragm and having an end portion slidably received in said sleeve member; a pin carried by said end portion and cooperable with said slot; spring means normally biasing said rod extension and pin outwardly; and valved means connecting said chamber and the intake manifold.

2. A device as claimed in claim l wherein guide means are carried by the housing for the rod extension.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valved means includes an adjustable needle valve operable to limit passage of fluid to and from the interior of said housing.

4. In a pneumatic responsive device for makfing and breaking an electrical circuit and solenoid element for engagement with said terminal means to close an electrical circuit; and rod means connected to said solenoid element and to said flexible end wall, said rod means vlimitedly axially extendable and contractible,

said rod means including a rod extension carrying a transverse pin, a hollow sleeve member having slots therein to accommodate said pin, and spring means between said pin and said contact means.

TONY R. COUTS. VERA M. RANKIN, Eecutrz' of the estate of Earl R. Rankin,

deceased.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,719,049 Forsberg I July 2, 1929 2,068,484 Coffey Jan. 19, 1937 2,302,685 Dyer Nov. 24, 1942 

